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The “Eis” of Acts 2_38

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The “Eis” of Acts 2:38

A Scholarly Defense of the Biblical Doctrine of Baptism for the Remission of Sins

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Act 2:38)

I. Introduction: Why This Lesson Matters Today

Few verses in the New Testament are as hotly debated as Acts 2:38. The apostle Peter’s inspired instruction to those pricked in their hearts on Pentecost—“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”—has become a dividing line between truth and error. Entire religious systems have been constructed to avoid the plain meaning of this verse. Chief among the controversies is the preposition “for” (Greek: εἰς—eis).

Does eis mean baptism is because sins are already forgiven, or does it mean baptism is in order to obtain the forgiveness of sins? The answer has eternal consequences. If baptism is not necessary for the remission of sins, then millions have been assured falsely. If it is necessary, then those who teach otherwise are keeping souls in their sins.

This lesson seeks to cut through centuries of man-made confusion and present the irrefutable, biblical truth regarding the “eis” of Acts 2:38. Only the inspired Word of God will be allowed to speak; tradition, denominational creeds, and human philosophies will be set aside.

II. Historical Context: Pentecost and the Foundation of the Church

Acts 2 records the birth of the church of Christ. Jerusalem was filled with Jews from every nation (Acts 2:5) as they observed the Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15–21). Peter’s sermon, preached by the authority of the risen Lord (Acts 2:32–36), convicted the audience that they had crucified the Son of God (v. 37).

Their desperate question—“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”—was met with this command:

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (εἰς) the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Historically, the early church understood baptism to be the God-appointed means by which penitent believers entered the forgiveness purchased by Christ’s blood. Early Christian writings, such as those of Justin Martyr (First Apology, c. 150 A.D.) and Tertullian (On Baptism, c. 200 A.D.), consistently interpreted baptism as essential to remission. The attempt to redefine eis as “because of” arose centuries later, as human doctrines of salvation by “faith only” developed.

III. Biblical Context and Greek Exegesis: The Meaning of Eis

1. Lexical Definition of Eis

The Greek preposition εἰς (eis) occurs more than 1,700 times in the New Testament. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, its primary meaning is “into, to, toward, for, in order to.” The preposition always points forward, indicating direction or purpose, never backward causation.

For example:

  • Matthew 26:28: “This is my blood… shed for (εἰς) many for the remission of sins.” Was Christ’s blood shed because sins were already forgiven? Absolutely not. His blood was shed to bring about remission.
  • Romans 10:10: “With the heart man believeth unto (εἰς) righteousness.” Does one believe because he is already righteous? Clearly not.

These examples confirm that eis in Acts 2:38 must also denote purpose—baptism is in order to receive remission of sins.

2. Grammatical Structure

In Acts 2:38, the verbs “repent” (μετανοήσατε—metanoēsate) and “be baptized” (βαπτισθήτω—baptisthētō) are both joined to the singular prepositional phrase “for (eis) the remission of sins.” It is grammatically impossible to separate the purpose of baptism from the purpose of repentance.

If baptism is because of remission already received, then repentance must also be because of remission already received. Such reasoning would render repentance meaningless, a conclusion no Bible believer can accept.

Click here for the full εἰς (eis) New Testament parsing table with examples

IV. Full Scripture Cross-Referencing: Baptism and Remission in Harmony

The plain teaching of Acts 2:38 is perfectly consistent with other New Testament passages:

  • Mark 16:16 – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Faith plus baptism equals salvation.
  • Acts 22:16 – “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Baptism is the point at which sins are washed away.
  • Romans 6:3–4 – Baptism unites the sinner with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
  • 1 Peter 3:21 – “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”

These verses, together with Acts 2:38, leave no room for the false claim that one is saved before baptism. The inspired pattern is consistent: faith + repentance + baptism = remission of sins.

V. Doctrinal Significance: Baptism as the Point of Forgiveness

Baptism is not a meritorious work of man but an act of obedient faith through which God applies the saving power of Christ’s blood. When one repents and is baptized eis the remission of sins, he is:

  1. Cleansed by the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16).
  2. Added to the church (Acts 2:47).
  3. Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:13).

To deny this is to alter God’s plan of salvation and to place oneself outside of Christ’s body.

VI. Refuting the False Narratives: “Because Of” vs. “In Order To”

1. The “Because Of” Argument is Grammatically Impossible

Those who teach salvation by “faith only” insist that eis in Acts 2:38 must mean “because of.” They claim baptism is a mere outward sign of an inward grace already received. This interpretation is untenable:

  • Nowhere in the New Testament does eis ever unambiguously mean “because of.”
  • If baptism is “because sins are already forgiven,” then repentance must also be “because sins are already forgiven,” as they share the same prepositional phrase.

2. The Parallel in Matthew 26:28

As noted earlier, Jesus said His blood was shed eis (for) the remission of sins. Was His blood shed because men were already forgiven? The very idea is blasphemous. The same construction demands the same meaning in Acts 2:38.

3. Twisting Scripture Condemned

Peter warned against those who “wrest… the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Redefining eis to protect human creeds is a deadly example of such twisting. The Bible’s teaching is consistent: baptism is essential to salvation.

VII. Conclusion: Choose the Truth of God Over the Doctrines of Men

Acts 2:38 stands as a divine beacon, illuminating the true path to remission of sins. Its message is clear and unalterable:

Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

To obey this command is to walk in harmony with God’s will; to reject or redefine it is to remain in rebellion against Him.

Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

Dear reader, will you believe the plain words of Scripture, or will you cling to man-made doctrines that cannot save? The gospel plea is as urgent today as it was on Pentecost: repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. Do not delay (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Readers may share, print, teach, or repost these articles if unaltered, intent preserved, not sold or used commercially, and with a clear link back to this blog.

#eis #Baptism #Salvation #BaptismBecauseOf #Acts238 #BaptismForRemission #EisGreekStudy #BiblicalSalvation #FaithRepentanceBaptism #IglesiaNiCristoSaBiblia #KapatawaranNgKasalanan

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ANG “EIS” NG GAWA 2:38

Ang Di-Matitinag na Katotohanan na Ang Bautismo ay Para sa Kapatawaran ng mga Kasalanan

"At sinabi sa kanila ni Pedro, Mangagsisi kayo, at mangagbautismo ang bawa't isa sa inyo sa pangalan ni Jesucristo sa ikapagpapatawad ng inyong mga kasalanan; at tatanggapin ninyo ang kaloob ng Espiritu Santo." (Act 2:38)

I. Panimula: Bakit Mahalaga ang Araling Ito Ngayon

Kaunti lamang sa mga talata ng Bagong Tipan ang pinagdedebatehan nang tulad sa Gawa 2:38. Ang inspiradong utos ni apostol Pedro sa mga nasaktan ang puso sa Pentecostes—“Mangagsisi kayo, at mangagbautismo ang bawa't isa sa inyo sa pangalan ni Jesucristo sa ikapagpapatawad ng inyong mga kasalanan;”—ay naging linya ng paghihiwalay sa pagitan ng katotohanan at kamalian.

Ang pinaka-pinagtatalunang bahagi ay ang pang-ukol na “sa” (Griyego: εἰς—eis). Ang tanong: Ang eis ba ay nangangahulugan na ang pagpapabautismo ay dahil napatawad na ang mga kasalanan, o nangangahulugan na ang bautismo ay upang matamo ang kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan? Ang tamang sagot ay may mabigat na epekto sa ating  magiging buhay sa walang hanggan.

Kung ang bautismo ay hindi kailangan para sa kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan, milyon-milyon ang may pinaniwalaang mali. Kung ito ay kailangan, ang mga nagtuturo ng kabaligtaran ay humahadlang sa mga kaluluwa na matubos mula sa kanilang mga kasalanan.

Layunin ng araling ito na putulin ang mga dahilan ng pagkalito at ipakita ang hindi matitinag na katotohanang biblikal hinggil sa “eis” ng Gawa 2:38. Hahayaan lamang nating magpayahag ang Salita ng Diyos; at isantabi ang tradisyon, mga kredo ng denominasyon, at pilosopiya ng tao.

II. Historical Context: Pentecostes at ang Pundasyon ng Iglesia

Itinala sa Gawa 2 ang kapanganakan ng iglesia ni Cristo. Ang Jerusalem ay punô ng mga Judio mula sa lahat ng bansa (Gawa 2:5) upang ipagdiwang ang Pista ng Pentecostes (Lev. 23:15–21). Ang pangangaral ni Pedro, dala ang awtoridad ng muling nabuhay na Panginoon (Gawa 2:32–36), ay nakasugat sa kanilang puso dahil ipinako nila sa krus ang Anak ng Diyos (tal. 37).

Ang kanilang desperadong tanong—“Mga kapatid, ano ang aming gagawin?”—ay tinugon ng utos na ito:

“Mangagsisi kayo, at mangagbautismo ang bawa't isa sa inyo sa pangalan ni Jesucristo sa (εἰς) ikapagpapatawad ng inyong mga kasalanan, at inyong tatanggapin ang kaloob ng Espiritu Santo” (Gawa 2:38).

Sa kasaysayan, ang unang iglesia ay malinaw na naunawaan na ang bautismo ang itinakdang paraan ng Diyos upang ang mga nagsisising mananampalataya ay makapasok sa kapatawaran ng dugo ni Cristo. Ang mga sinaunang manunulat na sina Justin Martyr (First Apology, c. 150 A.D.) at Tertullian (On Baptism, c. 200 A.D.) ay kapwa nagturo na ang bautismo ay mahalaga sa kapatawaran. Ang pagbabaluktot na gawing “dahil napatawad na” ang kahulugan ng eis ay lumitaw lamang paglaon, nang magsimulang lumaganap ang maling doktrinang “pananampalataya lamang ang nagliligtas.”

III. Biblikal na Konteksto: Ang Pag-aaral sa Kahulugan ng Salitang Griyegong Eis

1. Kahulugan ng Eis

Ang pang-ukol na Griyego na εἰς (eis) ay lumilitaw ng higit sa 1,700 beses sa Bagong Tipan. Ayon sa Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, ang pangunahing kahulugan nito ay “papasok sa, patungo sa, para sa, upang.” Ang pang-ukol na ito ay palaging tumuturo pasulong, nagpapakita ng layunin o direksyon, at hindi kailanman nagpapahiwatig ng nakaraan.

Halimbawa:

  • Mateo 26:28: “Ito ang aking dugo… na nabubuhos sa (εἰς) ikapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan.” Ibinuhos ba ang dugo ni Cristo dahil napatawad na ang mga kasalanan? Hindi! Ito’y ibinuhos upang magdulot ng kapatawaran.
  • Roma 10:10: “Sapagka’t sa puso’y sumasampalataya ang tao sa (εἰς) katuwiran.” Sumasampalataya ba ang tao dahil matuwid na siya? Hindi!

Kaya’t malinaw: sa Gawa 2:38, ang eis ay nagpapahiwatig ng layunin—ang bautismo ay upang matamo ang kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan.

2. Gramatikal na Estruktura

Sa Gawa 2:38, ang mga pandiwang “magsisi” (metanoēsate) at “magpabautismo” (baptisthētō) ay parehong kaugnay ng iisang pariralang pang-ukol: “sa (eis) ikapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan.”

Kung ang bautismo ay dahil napatawad na, kailangang ang pagsisisi ay dahil napatawad na rin. Ang lohika ay magbubunga ng kahibangan at magpapawalang-saysay sa pagsisisi—isang konklusyong hindi matatanggap ng sinumang naniniwala sa Biblia!

I-click dito upang makita ang kumpletong talahanayan ng εἰς (eis) sa Bagong Tipan na may mga halimbawa

IV. Ganap na Pag-uugnay ng Kasulatan: Ang Bautismo at Kapatawaran ay Magkasuwato

Ang malinaw na aral ng Gawa 2:38 ay kaayon ng iba pang talata sa Bagong Tipan:

  • Marcos 16:16 – “Ang sumasampalataya at mabautismuhan ay maliligtas;”
  • Gawa 22:16 – “…magtindig ka, at ikaw ay magbautismo, at hugasan mo ang iyong mga kasalanan, na tumatawag sa kaniyang pangalan.”
  • Roma 6:3–4 – Ang bautismo ay ang paglakip sa kamatayan, paglilibing, at pagkabuhay na maguli ni Cristo.
  • 1 Pedro 3:21 – “Na ayon sa tunay na kahawig ngayo'y nagligtas, sa makatuwid baga'y ang bautismo,…”

Walang lugar ang maling pahayag na ang tao ay ligtas na bago pa man mabautismuhan. Ang kinasihang anyo (pattern) ay malinaw: pananampalataya + pagsisisi + bautismo = kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan.

V. Doctrinal na Kahalagahan: Ang Bautismo bilang Punto ng Kapatawaran

Ang bautismo ay hindi gawa ng tao upang magtamo ng merito, kundi “sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya sa pagawa ng Dios,” (Colosas 2:12). Sa pagsisisi at bautismo eis sa ikapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan, ang tao ay:

  1. Hinuhugasan ng dugo ni Cristo (Apoc. 1:5; Gawa 22:16).
  2. Idinaragdag sa iglesia (Gawa 2:47).
  3. Tinatakan ng Espiritu Santo (Gawa 2:38; Efeso 1:13).

Ang pagtanggi katotohanang ito ay pagbabaluktot sa plano ng Diyos para sa kaligtasan at inilalagay nito ang sarili sa labas ng katawan ni Cristo.

VI. Pagsalungat sa mga Maling Paliwanag: “Dahil sa” kumpara sa “Upang”

1. Hindi Maaaring Gawing “Dahil sa” Ang Eis

Itinuturo ng mga naniniwala sa “pananampalataya lamang” na ang eis sa Gawa 2:38 ay nangangahulugang “dahil sa.” Sinasabi nilang ang bautismo ay palatandaan lamang ng kaligtasan na natamo na. Ang interpretasyong ito ay hindi katanggap-tanggap:

  • Wala sa Bagong Tipan na malinaw na gumamit ng eis bilang “dahil sa.”
  • Kung ang bautismo ay “dahil sa” kapatawaran, kailangang ang pagsisisi ay “dahil sa” kapatawaran din, dahil pareho silang saklaw ng iisang pariralang pang-ukol.

2. Ang Halimbawa sa Mateo 26:28

Ang dugo ni Cristo ay nabuhos eis (sa) ikapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan. Nabuhos ba ito dahil ang mga tao ay napatawad na? Ang maling unawang iyan ay kalapastanganan. Kaya nga, ang parehong paraan ng pagkagamit ng eis sa Mga Gawa 2:38 at Mateo 26:28 ay maliwanag na nagpapahayag ng parehong kahulugan nito.

3. Ang Pagbabaluktot ng Kasulatan ay Hahatulan

Binalaan ni Pedro ang mga nambabaluktot ng Salita ng Dios “ng mga di nakaaalam at ng mga walang tiyaga, na gaya rin naman ng kanilang ginagawa sa ibang mga kasulatan, sa ikapapahamak din nila.” (2 Pedro 3:16). Ang pagbabaluktot sa eis upang ipagtanggol ang mga kredo ng tao ay isang nakamamatay na halimbawa ng hidwang pananampalataya. Ang turo ng Biblia ay malinaw: ang bautismo ay mahalaga sa kaligtasan!

VII. Konklusyon: Piliin ang Katotohanan ng Diyos kaysa sa mga Doktrina ng Tao

Ang Gawa 2:38 ay isang ilawan ng Diyos na nagbibigay liwanag sa tunay na daan tungo sa kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan. Ang mensahe nito ay malinaw:

Magsisi at magpabautismo sa pangalan ni Jesucristo sa ikapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan.

Ang pagsunod sa utos na ito ay pakikipagkaisa sa kalooban ng Diyos; ang pagtanggi o pagbabaluktot nito ay pananatili sa paghihimagsik laban sa Kanya.

Sinabi ni Jesus, “Ang nagtatakuwil sa akin, at hindi tumatanggap ng aking mga salita, ay mayroong isang hahatol sa kaniya: ang salitang aking sinalita, ay siyang hahatol sa kaniya sa huling araw” (Juan 12:48).

Kaibigan, tatanggapin mo ba ang malinaw na mga salita ng Kasulatan, o mananatili ka sa mga doktrinang gawa ng tao na hindi makapagliligtas? Ang panawagan ng ebanghelyo ay kagyat: magsisi at magpabautismo sa kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan. Huwag magpaliban (2 Corinto 6:2).

Maaaring ibahagi, i-print, ipangaral, o i-repost ang mga artikulo dito kung hindi ito babaguhin, panananatilihin ang tema ng layunin, hindi ipagbibili o gagamitin para kumita, at may malinaw na link pabalik sa blog na ito.

#eis #Baptism #Salvation #BaptismBecauseOf #Acts238 #BaptismForRemission #EisGreekStudy #BiblicalSalvation #FaithRepentanceBaptism #IglesiaNiCristoSaBiblia #KapatawaranNgKasalanan

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